Bee swarm shuts down Toowoomba footy game

THERE wasn't so much as sting in defence on Toowoomba Rugby League preliminary final day at Clive Berghofer Stadium but rather stingers on da fence.

Play in the Second Division preliminary final between Warwick and Valleys was stopped briefly due to a swarm of European bees loitering on an advertising board on the Mary St side of the ground.

The bees had begun to encroach on the playing field which caused the game to stop.

The swarm stayed on the advertising board for the rest of the day and could be clearly seen from the grandstand on the other side of the ground.

It was also dangerous for the linesman and ball boys patrolling the sideline on that side of the ground.

The bees forced a rugby league game to be stopped briefly.

Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing south west region manager Garry Humphries said action would be taken if the bees did not move on.

"The bees will likely be gone in a couple of days when they find a suitable tree trunk or household ceiling to become their new home, if not we will call a local apiarist to come and take them away," he said.

"The sign upon which they decided to form their temporary hive is a photograph of trees in a forest and given that there were 26 signs to choose from it may mean that they like the realistic looking trees.

"The departure of the bees is good news for us because their previous home was thought to be in the ceiling of the grandstand."